By Lt. Tarra Mendes, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at approximately 11:33 PM, an Antioch Police Officer spotted a white Ford F250 and determined that the plates attached to it did not belong to that vehicle. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver fled, leading officers on a vehicle pursuit. The driver ultimately lost control of the vehicle crashed into a residence on Golden Bear Drive.

While attempting to take the suspect into custody, identified as 53-year-old Mark Dickinson of Antioch, he resisted and a police service dog assisted in taking him into custody. The vehicle was determined to be stolen out of Concord. No residents were injured as a result of the collision. The case is still currently under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

See video by NBC Bay Area News, here.

Shot one officer in the head

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office the Contra Costa County District Attorney

On February 6, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant Mario Serrano of Antioch guilty of 13 counts, including the attempted murder of two Antioch Police Department officers, Thomas Smith and Scott Duggar. Serrano used a stolen shotgun to fire at police officers after a high-speed chase on May 4, 2016. Officer Thomas Smith was shot in the head with birdshot as a result of Serrano’s actions. The jury found multiple enhancements true against Serrano, including that he was armed with a firearm and the intentional discharge of a firearm. The jury also determined that Serrano’s attempted murder of the Antioch officers was premeditated. (See related article).

Serrano now faces a possible life term in state prison. Sentencing will occur on April 12, 2019 in front of the Honorable Nancy Davis – Department 20 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. The case originated in the Office’s Community Violence Reduction Unit.

“I am thankful that defendant Serrano has been held accountable for his actions. He endangered the lives of many innocent civilians simply because he believed that his girlfriend was cheating on him. I also commend Officer Smith and Officer Duggar, whose bravery put an end to the defendant’s incredibly violent and senseless crime spree,” stated Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell.

Serrano’s illegal activity started on May 2, 2016. He parked his car in the drive thru of a McDonald’s in Antioch to annoy his girlfriend who worked at that location. He later returned to the McDonald’s to smash the glass front doors with a lug wrench. After he left McDonald’s he went to the Mt. Diablo Landscape Center on the Pittsburg Antioch Highway where he doused his girlfriend’s car in gasoline and set the car on fire.

Between May 2 and May 4, Serrano broke into a house in Clayton off Marsh Creek Road. The residents were not home at the time. He ransacked the house and stole their shotgun and truck.

On May 4, 2016, in the early morning, Serrano drove the stolen truck and fired four shots at the same McDonald’s. One of the shot’s was fired into the Children’s Playland – no children were inside at the time of the shooting.

He fled the scene and drove to a residence in Pittsburg. He used the same shotgun to fire a shot through the window. Later that day Serrano carjacked a group of high school students and took a vehicle on Cummings Skyway and Franklin Canyon Road near Crockett.

Upon driving back to Antioch in the stolen car, police located the vehicle and began a pursuit. The pursuit continued into Pittsburg as Serrano fled from the officers. During rush hour traffic, Serrano crashed into a car at the intersection of Loveridge Road and East Leland Road in Pittsburg. After the crash, Serrano exited the vehicle with the shotgun and took a position of cover while he waited for officers to arrive. He began to shoot at the officers upon their arrival to the intersection. Serrano shot Officer Smith in the head with birdshot.

The guilty counts against Serrano found by the jury:

Count 1, Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 2, Assault with a Firearm Upon a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 3, Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 4, Assault with a Firearm Upon a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 5, Vandalism Over $400 in Damage

Count 6, Arson of Property of Another

Count 7, First Degree Residential Burglary

Count 8, Petty Theft Firearm (misdemeanor)

Count 9, Driving or Taking a Vehicle Without Consent

Count 10, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling

Count 11, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling

Count 12, Carjacking

Enhancement 1, Personal Use of a Firearm

Count 13, Fleeing a Pursuing Peace Officer’s Motor Vehicle While Driving Recklessly

Enhancement 1, Armed with Firearm

Case information: People v. Mario Guadalupe Serrano, Docket Number 05-171324-7

By Sgt. Rick Smith, Antioch Police Field Services – Patrol

On Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 at approximately 1:55 P.M., Antioch Police Dispatch began receiving calls regarding shots being fired in the area of Lemontree Way and Sycamore Drive. Antioch Officers arrived in the area and found a 30-year-old male suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aide until medical personnel arrived on scene. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment and is currently listed in critical condition.

Officers are currently following up on investigative leads. No further information is being released at this time due to this active investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Corporal Steve McElroy #2500, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On January 30, 2019, at approximately 6:47 p.m., the Antioch Police Department received a call from the 4800 block of Cushendall Way regarding two people shot.  Upon officers’ arrival, they located a 32-year-old female, and a 29-year-old male both suffering from gunshot wounds.  Neither victim’s injuries were life threatening, and both were transported to an area hospital and were expected to recover.

No suspect(s) were immediately located, and the case currently remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441 or you may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Ex-boyfriend of one of the residents

By Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Antioch Police Field Services

On Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 at approximately 5:18 PM, the Antioch Police Department began receiving reports of a male subject who was armed with a gun inside a home, in the 3900 block of Finch Drive. It was reported that the male was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance, acting irrationally, and had pointed the gun at other occupants of the home. Three adults were inside the home and were hiding in an upstairs bedroom. Antioch Police Officers arrived on scene and set up a perimeter on the residence. They were able to make contact with the three victims, two 18-year-olds and one 22-year-old, through a second story window, and confirm the responsible was on the first floor, still armed and hallucinating / acting erratic.

After a short time on scene, a gunshot was heard from inside the residence. Officers quickly approached the residence and prepared to make entry, while simultaneously beginning to evacuate the three victims from the second story window and onto the driveway. As this was occurring, the responsible began to exit the front door of the residence, where officers were able to detain him peacefully.

The responsible was a 40-year-old resident of Antioch, who was determined to be in a previous dating relationship with the primary resident. The responsible was a convicted felon who was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), with an active warrant for violating his PRCS terms. A loaded semi-auto handgun was located inside the residence, along with additional ammunition and evidence the gun was just fired. The responsible was booked into County Jail for various weapons violations, violation of probation, and assault with a firearm.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Corporal Steve McElroy #2500, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On January 19, 2019, The Antioch Police Department received numerous calls of a female shot in the 900 block of W. 7th Street. Upon officers’ arrival, they located a 20-year-old female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds that appear to be non-life threatening. She was transported to an area hospital, and she is expected to recover. No suspect(s) were located at this time, and the case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or you may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Sergeant Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Saturday, January 19, 2019 at approximately 2:24 am, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Walter Way near the ABC Rendezvous bar on a report of a shooting that just occurred. Antioch Police Officers arrived on scene a located a 30-year-old male victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. It was discovered the responsible(s) fled the area prior to police arrival. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment where he was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Due to the investigation by the Martinez Police Department, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged 50-year-old Martinez resident Richard P. Stephenson with two felonies for embezzlement and two misdemeanor charges of possessing a controlled substance. 

The embezzlement charges relate to Mr. Stephenson stealing controlled substances belonging to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District in order to support his personal drug addiction. 

An arrest warrant in the amount of $50,000 was issued on January 9, 2019.  Stephenson was arraigned at the Contra Costa County Superior Courthouse on January 10, 2019, the next court date is February 26th.

The charges filed against Richard Stephenson include:

• Count 1, Embezzlement by Public or Private Officer – Felony
• Count 2, Embezzlement by Clerk, Agent or Servant – Felony
• Count 3, Possession of Fentanyl – Misdemeanor
• Count 4, Possession of Midazolam – Misdemeanor

Case information: People v. Richard Paul Stephenson, Docket Number 01-188454-3